Former U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled plans to create an American version of Israel’s “Iron Dome” missile defense system, emphasizing the need to protect the homeland with cutting-edge technology.
Speaking at a Republican Party meeting in Miami, Trump declared, “We must immediately begin building a high-quality Iron Dome missile defense shield that can protect Americans,” as reported by Fox News.
According to Trump, he has already signed an executive order to kick-start the project, with newly appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth leading the charge. “We need to start building a state-of-the-art Iron Dome missile defense shield,” Trump stated. Hegseth later echoed Trump’s enthusiasm on X, pledging, “We will carry out the plan!”
Criticizing the U.S. for prioritizing the protection of other countries over its own, Trump pointed out that even during the Cold War, former President Ronald Reagan admired the concept of missile defense but never implemented it domestically. Now, Trump believes it’s time for the U.S. to take advantage of the advanced technology exemplified by Israel’s Iron Dome.
Trump emphasized that the entire system would be “100 percent made in the USA” and vowed to create “the deadliest fighting force in the world.” Additionally, he promised to reinstate military personnel dismissed due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
During his campaign, Trump frequently praised Israel’s Iron Dome as a model for a robust American defense system. Deployed in 2011, the Iron Dome protects Israel from short-range missile attacks, boasting a 90% success rate by intercepting threats from up to 69 kilometers away. The U.S. has supported Israel’s Iron Dome with billions of dollars in funding over the years.
For America, Trump suggested that the “Arrow 3” system, jointly developed by the U.S. and Israel since 2017, could be adapted. Unlike the Iron Dome, Arrow 3 focuses on countering long-range missiles, a critical defense measure for addressing threats to the U.S. homeland.
